Attempted ram raid on Fordham Co-op. Thieves flee after failing to steal cash machine. This is the extensive damage that was caused. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.
Archant

Brazen thieves fled the scene after failing to steal a cash machine from the Co-op in Fordham last night.

[embedded content]
A police spokesman said: “At about 1.30am the offenders used a Silver BMW X3 to smash the brick work and window of a convenience store in Carter Street.
“They then attempted to use a rope to drag a free standing ATM cash machine out of the building, but the rope snapped and the men fled the scene.
“The offenders are believed to have left the scene in two other vehicles, leaving the Silver BMW X3 behind. No arrests have been made.”
Anyone with information regarding this incident should call police on 101 quoting CF0015500118 or visit www.cambs.police.uk/report.
Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
It is not known when the store will re-open due to the extensive damage caused.
A local woman said: “A shame no overnight patrol car around here anymore – especially when St Ives Aldi was hit on Friday night and Burwell a few times now .
“If they had been nearby they could of caught them red handed as they were over five to 0 minutes making an enormous amount of noise, then arguing with each other as it went wrong.”
The attempted ram raid comes just days after The Co-op group announced is to move its food store in Fordham to a new location in the village.
It also follows a pre-Christmas crime spree in December where East Cambridgeshire shops and businesses were ram raided and burgled.
Timeline of burglaries and ram raids in East Cambridgeshire since mid-October:
October 17: A property in Columbine Road, Ely, was broken into and a pair of Nike trainers were taken.
November 17: A stolen Range Rover was used in an attempted ram raid at a Co-op service station on Ness Road, Burwell.
November 19: Cash and jewellery stolen from an address in Longfields, Ely.
November 22: Cash and jewellery stolen from an address in Hertford Close, Ely.
November 26: Cash and jewellery stolen from an address in Norfolk Road, Ely.
December 3: Thieves broke into The Deli @ 65 on High Street, Sutton, and caused damage to fridges, freezers and locks. They also stole hundreds of pounds worth of food and alcohol.
December 5: A man entered the post office in Main Street, Stow cum Quy, and approached the till area, pulled a knife out and threatened staff before taking the cash drawer from the till.
December 7: Thieves broke into an address in Hillside Meadow, Fordham, and stole jewellery.
December 8: Thieves returned to The Deli @ 65 stealing the till, locks, food and drink.
December 9: Costcutter in Main Street, Littleport, was hit by ram-raiders. Three people stole a cash machine after smashing into it in a car; the shop was left with smashed windows and doors and a bollard outside was also knocked over.
December 10: Four people broke into the Co-op store on Wisbech Road, Littleport, and stole cigarettes at around 1.10am.
December 11: Four men forced their way into the Soham branch of Asda in Clay Street, on Monday, stealing cigarettes before leaving the area.
December 13: Thieves burgled an address in Trinity Close, Fordham, and stole jewellery.
December 15: Thieves broke into properties in Collins Hill and Murfitt’s Lane, Fordham. Jewellery was stolen in both incidents.
December 15: Night raiders used a teleporter and a fork lift truck in a midnight ram raid on the BP garage at Littleport.
January 3: Thieves forced a gas store open and stole four oxygen cylinders from the Princess of Wales Hospital in Ely.
Source: Camb Times